"Game Master" or "Game Moderator". This is the person who is in charge of running the game, including having final say over how actions are resolved. Also referred to as "Storyteller" (in White Wolf games), "Dungeon Master" (in D&D), and innumerable other names.
65
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9answers
2k views
How does a player correct a GM mistake without being a rules lawyer or pushover?
You are playing in a game. The GM says that you need to roll a given roll. The rules clearly state something different. I realize one solution is to go along to get along, then tell the GM after ...
14
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16answers
443 views
When GMing a game, how much should you prepare in advance?
Obviously you need to have some high level idea of what's going on in the world around the players, and where you are heading with the story, but in an ongoing game at some point players will be ...
33
votes
6answers
738 views
What is a good way to become a better NPC/monster actor?
One of the biggest problems I have as Game Master, (going on 30+yrs) is in portraying NPC and Monsters in any RPG. Is there a good resource for becoming a better 'actor'?
Instead of just saying... ...
23
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19answers
1k views
What role-playing games have good gamemaster advice sections?
Which RPG's, in your experience, have good advice for gamemasters in their rulebooks, both for novice and experienced gamemasters?
Please keep in mind that this question is not about good games for ...
29
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15answers
630 views
Your friend wants to learn the ways of the Dungeon Master, what do you do?
I believe that all tabletop role playing gamers should at one point or another try their hand at Dungeon Mastering. However, it's a goal that at times can feel overwhelming.
What advice would you ...
25
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9answers
871 views
What qualities are important when creating a fantasy RPG campaign?
Creating custom game play content for a group can be challenging for even the most experienced GM. Understanding how your group members' play and understanding what they want to experience is ...
14
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6answers
449 views
Where can I find artwork to inspire adventure design?
Often when I find a cool piece of artwork online, I build some scene in my upcoming adventure around it and then show the image to the players during the session. The more cool artwork I have access ...
26
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8answers
1k views
What are the most important differences for a 1st Edition AD&D Dungeon Master learning to run D&D 4E?
I'm a campaign designer and DM with 20+ years of AD&D 1st edition experience. I've been "retired" from the game for over a decade, assume I don't know anything about 2nd, 3rd, or 3.5.
Now I'm ...
19
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8answers
967 views
How do I handle a group that does not understand the 'assumption rule'?
1st rule of D&D (as of 3rd edition/pathfinder): The GM is the final arbiter on all rules.
I understand this, completely, and do not disagree. That said, I'm having trouble with a group that ...
31
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17answers
1k views
How to Handle a Powergamer / Munchkin
What are some strategies that I can employ to handle a power gamer that constantly outshines the rest of the party? This is a friend of us all and we don't want to boot him, but combat simply isn't ...
18
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5answers
359 views
How do I run a game for a larger group?
I am currently running a Dungeons and Dragons 4 campaign for a group of 9 players. Whittling the group down to a more manageable size is not really an option since they are all family. When we do ...
11
votes
4answers
452 views
How to challenge legendary characters?
As characters get to Legendary in Savage World (Fantasy) they abilities soon seem to out class the Powers the creatures have. For example, most powers are saved with a attribute, say Agility, if you ...
24
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17answers
766 views
How to handle a rule-lawyer player?
As a game master, what strategy/strategies seems to work well for handling players that have spent more time reading through the rule books than you have? While it's helpful at times to have the ...
11
votes
3answers
401 views
Cheating on rolls as a DM to adjust the difficulty on the fly (or other means to adjust difficulty)
I was a DM for the first time yesterday.
It was a lot of fun, and all things considered, I think I've made a pretty darn good first session. It was, however, too difficult. I've based the various ...
15
votes
10answers
505 views
Strategies for dealing with turtle or roach players?
How should GMs deal with players who turtle or roach?
By turtle I am referring to players who obviously wanted to play because they joined the game, but when they're actually at the table they keep ...
30
votes
17answers
1k views
What is the single most influential book every GM should read?
If you had your career as a GM to start again, what book would you wish to have read before you started on the path of learning to be a GM.
This needn't be restricted to RPG source and rulebooks of ...
24
votes
14answers
627 views
Story Arc vs. Player Creativity
I want to put the players in a challenging spot by putting them in a no win situation and having them captured and stripped of their equipment (assuming they might get it back as they make their ...
22
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5answers
475 views
How do I increase role-playing during combat?
Right now, the group that I GM for is very, very tactical combat focused. To some extent we may as well be playing a dungeon crawl boardgame for all the role-play we manage.
Now, in itself that's not ...
21
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6answers
403 views
How do you switch from parenting-mode to GM-mode?
Directly related to this question.
My players are my children. A GM has a different relationship with players than a parent does with children. A parent tries to encourage and nurture children; a ...
12
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3answers
2k views
Does anyone have any templates for Scrivener?
I want to start using Scrivener to plan a game and am looking for some templates for characters, locations, encounters, etc.
26
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9answers
375 views
Rotating the GM
Is it advisable to run a campaign where the GM occasionally rotates to be a regular player while a player becomes the GM? I've seen some mentions of this strategy to prevent the GM from getting burnt ...
17
votes
10answers
973 views
How do I encourage a GM to use the rules as written?
Related to this question, there are some game masters who either don't know the rules or ignore them properly. They come into conflict with rules lawyers, players who know the rules well and expect ...
16
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6answers
366 views
Techniques for speeding up a game with many players at the table?
I have a table of six players already, and have more people interested in joining my game. I wanted to consult people who had experience with running large tables to see if running for larger groups ...
28
votes
4answers
283 views
How can the players reduce the workload of a game master?
As you know DMs do most of the job for the campaign (maps, plot, NPCs etc) and quite a bit of storytelling.
Players, on the other side, bring in their creativity and add extra spice to the game ...
24
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11answers
1k views
Should a GM be a Player?
Game Masters have plenty to do; no need to enumerate the tasks here. But should a non-player character be a 'regular' in a party?
By gaining a voice in the in-character interactions, the GM taps a ...
19
votes
8answers
427 views
How do you DM differently when it's for only one person?
I've just finished running my first session with only one player, and it felt pretty different from running a session for a group. Could someone with more experience in this talk about what one ...
12
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1answer
132 views
Are there guidelines for creating & customising MM3-style monsters?
I've heard that Monster Manual 3 came with an improved design philosophy for monsters (particularly solos), and there are questions about updating pre-MM3 monsters for MM3.
I want to create and ...
27
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12answers
1k views
How do you compensate your game master?
It's fairly common to see games (especially D&D) choose someone as the bullet-swallower - one player becomes the emulation engine on which the game runs. The bait is the ability to take charge of ...
15
votes
2answers
219 views
What are the consequences of letting players be characters from a work of fiction?
What are the consequences of letting players be characters from a book, movie, or other pre-existing work of fiction?
For example, how would I handle a campaign based on the X-Files where the PCs are ...
12
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5answers
352 views
What are some good sources for combat tactics for a GM to use?
My players are extremely strategic, and they're consistently (and too easily) defeating groups of enemies that I intended to present a real challenge. Probably for the same reason that I suck at ...
11
votes
4answers
435 views
Help turning my NPC Druid Undead
I have an upper level NPC druid that I plan on killing and then making undead, along with his animal companion.
1) Do the rules allow the undead animal companion in this situation? (If so does it ...
6
votes
2answers
119 views
How to Use Module Maps
I found a module I'd like to run. It includes some great maps. What's the best way to use them in a gaming session? They're too small to use as-is, so I'm wondering how other people use maps from ...
36
votes
9answers
3k views
How should I respond to a DM who unfairly plays the “rules-lawyer” card?
My question: How would you, experienced role-player, deal with this situation?
I was recently invited to join a 4e startup goup. I've RP'd a fair bit in my day, but not in decades, and never D&D. ...
22
votes
4answers
647 views
Dealing with players who try to run from everything?
I DM for a group with a guy who always suggests leaving the dungeon, area, or wherever the party is. It seems like no matter what I try or do to the setting he just won't relax and play the game – he ...
17
votes
6answers
730 views
How to encourage a player's creativity without breaking the game?
I've just started a new D&D 4e campaign with a new group of players. One of my players came straight from 2nd edition, and has never played 4e before. She doesn't seem to grasp the layer of ...
17
votes
6answers
466 views
Am I designing my campaign setting to be too specific?
I'm a first time DM (3.5e), and, being a passionate writer, I decided to create the entire campaign and campaign setting myself. It's been good fun, and I have about 12 pages of (elaborated upon) ...
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8answers
1k views
Roleplaying as a job. Skills and background?
A friend of mine is a great DM, and we always told him that he should be paid for his skills. He smiles and says that it's enough to have fun, but seriously, can you make a living out of role playing ...
13
votes
9answers
376 views
How can I encourage my group to become more well rounded?
My gaming group tends to each go in their own direction for character creation. Sometimes this leads to great games where folks are strongly opposed on dramatic elements and character interaction is ...
10
votes
2answers
213 views
Memories of undeath once resurrected?
Related to my other question: Undead NPC Druid
If an NPC has been turned undead and later destroyed/resurrected does he retain the memory of being undead? Specifically the actions he took part in ...
10
votes
6answers
728 views
My fifth level PC has a +2 longsword but that's about all
How much can any single possession take up a character's wealth? For this question, I'd like answers that operate under the presumption that wealth-by-level isn't a minimum but instead a target.
I've ...
11
votes
7answers
462 views
Could a “Fog of war” prop break a game in any way?
I'm going to run the Pathfinder's Beginners Box scripted adventure that has a dungeon map printed.
This is not only the first time GMing, it's my first time playing an RPG. All of the party are new ...
11
votes
3answers
248 views
Writing new campaign, is it fine to “make it up as we go along”?
Making new fantasy Dungeons and Dragons third edition game. Wrote out the entire first situation with most general situations in mind. Should I try and just "ole" the whole creative process and have ...
